9volt 

Thoughts on the year/model of this Raleigh? I'm seeing some conflicting info on The Headbadge: A Vintage Bicycle Resource

- Oval Head badge (67-71?)
- 6 digit SN on rear dropout (73?)
- Likey was green
- No RD hanger
- Zeus crank, Huret mech, Brampton BB
- I suspect straight gauge 531 triangle

9volt 

More pic!

Kuromori

I'm guessing '70 Gran Sport or thereabouts. Since it's chromed you might be able to make out any Reynolds stampings on the tubes.

nlerner

I would guess it’s a chromed SuperCourse. What size seatpost?

bulgie 

Pretty sure there was never an all-chrome SC.
My guess is a Grand Sports, maybe '70? Check out Gugie's here: https://flic.kr/s/aHsmAMGtxP
They also had a Gran Sport model (dropping the final "d" and "s"), famous for the white with Lagoon Blue paint, but I think these chrome ones were Grand Sports. They're very rare.

-Mark

juvela

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Cycle is sending mixed messages.

Kitting of Zeus Competition chainset, Huret Luxe gear ensemble, Normandy Luxe Competition hubs is more consistent with GS. (Original rear mech would have been Huret Luxe or Huret Luxe Touring.)

However, note that headset is Raleigh rather than Alatet, suggesting that steerer is 26T rather than 24T. For a GS would expect a 24T steerer.

Note that chainstays are dimpled rather than rapier pattern.

The Brampton bottom bracket lockring is a bit of a klinker. Adjustable cup does appear to be Zeus. Worksop was notorious for throwing any old thing to hand on there to keep the line moving.

Leaning toward GS but looking forward to the observations of the cape tosser experts.

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Mark -

it is pretty clear the machine was originally painted green.


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bulgie 

Yes, but I've worked on a lot of green Super Courses, never saw one that was all chrome underneath. On the other hand, we have seen Grand Sports that were chromed everywhere then painted, including green on the BB shell, like this one: https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-v...ts-chrome.html

Gugie's has the BB shell painted over chrome too, but a different color.

So, my theory is, Grand Sports that some previous owner stripped the paint from.

-Mark

big chainring 

Yes on Gran Sport / Grand Sports. The chrome with multi-color chromovelato paint. Stunning bikes when new, but the translucent lacquer on chrome was short lived. Saw an example at my local bike shop last summer with the same remnents of paint on the Bottom Bracket. But what an offering from Raleigh in the middle of their bike line up.

beicster 

That is a beauty! I am envious.

juvela

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Hello Mark,

MY error!

What passeth for me "braine" crossed the "SC" and "GS" shorthands.

Make FAR too many errors.

Try me best to bat above .500 but sometimes I wonder...

We are right on the same page here.

Roger

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bulgie 

Ha, I don't see anything you said that was wrong. We both just needed to converge on a shared understanding.
​​​​​​​As far as batting averages go, I dream of getting mine up near where yours is -- not likely tho!
-Mark

9volt 

Sorry about the sideways pic

Thanks for all the info! The post in the bike is a 26.2 SR. The keyway looked very slightly pinched and a Stein post tool suggests it should be 26.4. Maybe 26.6 but unlikely.

9volt 

The closest catalog match I've been able to find is 1970 Gran Sport. I wasn't able to find a 69 or 71 catalog.

Matches - crank, stem, bars?, color?, brakes, wheels?, shifters, FD, pedals
No match - Post and RD (clearly not stock)

This one is not my size and will be available. Feel free to shoot me a message.

beicster 

Reviving a somewhat old thread to ponder on whether or not the Super Course and the Gran Sport were the same frame that year with different amounts of chrome and then built up differently. Both frames are noted as being 531 and no mention of the Gran Sport being butted. The lugs look similar as well.

GranSport70

Decal and Factory Black Hand Painted and Gold with Red Pin Strip. 1968 original condition Raleigh Gran(d) Sport.

My other Chrome 1968 Raleigh Grand Sport that I rode, with my friend Bill Metcalf, from Miami to San Francisco, up Milner Pass, in 1972. changed my Derailleurs to Campagnola.


I first purchased a Chromed Raleigh Grand Sport in 1971. The original owner said he purchased it in ‘68. It had the Coffee and Bronze Green decals that fell/peeled off rapidly & easily. It did have the Huret Derailleurs that I replaced with Campagnola before riding her from Miami to San Francisco And down the Coast in 1972.
I recently purchased a “New” 1968 Chrome Grand Sport Raleigh, the same exact bike, in “as near new” condition. She has the other color scheme, Black and Gold, with hand painted Red pin stripping in near perfect original condition. I’m keeping her as a show piece and riding my original bike regularly.
l’m assuming that only a few were manufactured in 1968 and sent to a few favorite dealers. They were shown in the 1970 catalog but never mass produced. The Coffee/Bronze Green decals were defective. I recollect that the Coffee/Bronze Green were of decal material that fell off. The Black appears to be painted on, with Red, hand painted, Pin Striping at the ends of the solid colors.
I believe I’ll be taking these thoughts to my grave since the first one I purchased when I was 21 and the second one I purchased as a 70 year old, having not heard much more Definitive information since or in between.
Coffee/Green S/N 182336
Black/Gold S/N 171232

oneclick 

I have a 1983 Gran Sport with a Raleigh headset - stamped (and I checked) 24 TPI.

GranSport70

Ok, let’s start with the fact that:
1. The Bike that 9Volt first refers to in this forum has the exact same beautifully artistic Lugs as my 2 1968 Raleigh Chrome “Grand” Sports! ..........
2. We should next mention even though the 1970 Catalog refers to the Chrome Bikes as a “Gran” Sport, the 2 1968 bikes I possess, with both color schemes, had and have the model “Grand” Sport on the bicycles.
3. The Blue White “Gran” Sport Model DL160 that Juvela refers to we’re built from 1972 thru 1975, also in England. The Lugs are very simple compared to the the earlier Chromed “Grand” Sports that are referred to as “Gran” Sports in the ‘70 Catalog.......
4. You, (onclick), have a Beautiful 1983 “Gran” Sport, made in Japan by Huffy/Raleigh........
5. I don’t believe we can compare bikes and their specifications, built over a span of many years, with different Lugs, on different Production Lines and in different Countries/Islands to each other just because they were given similar Model names, and with different spelling.........

GranSport70

I wish to thank you for responding to my Post.
I just started riding again after a few years. My wife recently passed away.
I’d been my wife’s caretaker for the last few years and I didn’t want to get into an accident on the bike and not be able to be there for my Best Friend.

beicster 

Sorry for your loss.

Welcome back to riding. Get yourself one more post and you will be able to post pictures of those beauties.

GranSport70

Good evening 9Volt,
Do you still have the Chrome Raleigh?
Do you wish to sell her as you had mentioned, possibly?

GranSport70

GranSport70

I care for 2 of the very Rare, Raleigh Grand (Gran) Sport Bicycles.
The one that I purchased used in 1971 still had some of the Green, decal type film still sticking to the frame. The ordinal owner stated that he purchased it new in 1968 from Joe Alvarez, owner of Grove Bicycle Shop, Coconut Grove, Fla, a Raleigh Dealer. I installed the Campagnola Derailleurs before riding cross country in 1972.
The second bike that I purchased in 2020 is near new condition, never rebuilt.
It is the alternative decal model that is described in the 1970 Catalog, Black Paint and Red, Hand Painted Pin Striping.
I am surprised that the gold Cellophane type decals are still affixed to the frame.
the Serial numbers are 171232, & 182336.

Decal and Factory Black Hand Panted with Red Pin Strip. 1968 original condition Raleigh Gran(d) Sport.

My other Chrome 1968 Raleigh Grand Sport that I rode, with my friend Bill Metcalf, from Miami to San Francisco, up Milner Pass, in 1972. changed my Derailleurs to Campagnola.

Kilroy1988 

Didn't you already post about both of those bicycles in this thread more than two years ago?

GranSport70

Yes I did. I didn’t read thru the whole thread of posts before I composed and sent my second one.
Then I thought, why not bring it up to everyone’s attention again.
There is, I must admit, some Pride on my part for coming back, “into the room”, for a repeated, “Show and Tell”.